Electric connector



Jan. 16, 1923.

J. A. McKAY.

ELECTRIC CONNECTOR.

FILLI- FEB. 21, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

' Illlllllll Jan. 16, 1923.

J. A. McKAY. ELECTRIC CONNECTOR.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

FILED FEB. 21, 1920.

)2? @513 mom L013 Patented Jan. 16, 1923. v

UNITED STATES PA ENT OFFICE.

JOHN ANDREW MOKAY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

ELECTRIC CONNECTOR.

-4 To all whom it may concern:

Be .it known that 1, JOHN Axonnw Mc- KAY, a subject of the King of Great Britain, and resident of New York city, in the count y of New York and Stateof-New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Connectors, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention; relates to electric connectors of thetype commonly known as receptacles or outlets, and has for its main object to render such outlets more universal in their application than has heretofore been possible; that is to say to make it possible to plug in different kinds of removable fittings in the same receptacle.

7 In the art-as practiced at the present time, receptacles are generally providedwhich are flush with the wall or other surface in which they are located, the contact sockets being accessible from the front surface of thereceptacle which receive the plug of the device to be 'attached. In Patents Nos. 1,300,286 and 1,307,869 are disclosed pivotally mounted socket members which occupy a position flush with the wall when not in use and which 'are given a forwardly tilted protruding position when it is desired to plug in an attachment.

The main feature of the present invention resides in means whereby the receptacle can occupy either-the flush or the tiltedposition and still'afi'ord terminal facilities for the device to be attached; and whereby also attachwhich Fig. l is a vertical sectional view, substantially on the line 11 of Fig. 2 of a device embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a face view looking in the direction of the arrow 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 with the front plate and pivotally supported member removed,

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view on the line 4-l of Fig. 2. j

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view on' the line 5"5 of Fig. 2 showingthe pivotally supported member in its closed position.

Fig. 6 is a part of a view similar-t0 Fig.

5 with the pivotally supported member in its protruding position.

Fig. 7 is a detailed view of one form of plug that can be used in connection with the device of my invention.

Figs. 8 and 9 are diagrammatic face views of other plugs that can be used in connection with the device of my invention.

in opening 3 and pivotally supported at its lower end on pivots 9. .This adjustable member may occupy a position either within the box and with its front side 10 flush with the plate 3- of the box (see Fig. 1) or a protruding position with its top side 11 forwardly inclined and exposed outside the flush plate (see Fig. 4). Vhen member 8 is in its innermost position a spring latch 12 frictionally operates to keep it from protruding by its own weight, and to facilitate manipula- S is an adjustable tion of said member into its protruding position cut-outs for fingerholds 1 5 are provided in front face 2.

Member 8 is provided with contact fingers 14 which slidingly engage spring contacts 5 so that electrical'connection between said parts exists whether member 8 is in its in ward or protruding position. Each of contact fingers 14 is connected with an upwardly extending socket. terminal 15, accessible fromthe top side of the adjustable member through longitudinal sockets 11 and with springs 17 and. 18 forming plug contact terminals accessible from the front side of the adjustable member.

It will now be understood that when the adjustable member is in its protruding position, a plug such as 19 may have its. terminals 20 inserted into the contacts 15, and that when the adjustable member is in either its protruding or innermost position,'plugs outlet box having a front as 21- or 22 may have their terminals 23 and 24 inserted into the contacts 17 or 18.

I claim:

1. An electric connector comprising: an face flush with the surface in which it is mounted, a member, havin front and top sides, supported in said outlet box and means mountingsaid member permitting it to be adjustable to occupy a position, with its front side flush with the front face of the box or a protruding position exposing its top side, and provided with terminals accessible from the front and top sides, a permanent electric fitting within the box. means in said adjustable member electrically connected with said terminals and with the permanent fitting in both positions of the adjustable member.

2. An electric connector comprising: an outlet box having a front face flush with the surface in which it is mounted, a member, having front and top sides, pivotally supported. in said outlet box and means mounting said member permitting it to be adjustable to occupy a position with its front side flush with the front face of the box or a pro truding position exposing its top side, and provided with terminals accessible from the front and top sides, a permanent electric fitting within the box, means in said adjustable member electrically connectedwith said terminals and with the both positions of the adjustable member.

3. An electric connector comprising a flush receptacle, a stationary fitting mounted in said receptacle andlnwing contacts thereon provided with, terminals for receiving line wires, a socket member hinged at one end to said receptacle and movable outwardly to expose the free GIIduthQI'QOf, co'ntact fingers mounted on the socket member and adapted to engage the contacts of said stationary fitting in both closed and open positions of said socket member, and a plurality of sets of plug receiving contacts carried by said socket member and accessible from the free end and front sides thereof.

Signed at N ew York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 18th day of February A. D. 1920.

J OHN ANDREYV MoKAY.

permanent fittin'g in a 

